Governor Mark Dayton at a plant tour during the Minnesota Manufacturers' Week

Minnesota’s manufacturing industry is a critical part of the state economy – employing one out of every nine workers in our state. In honor of their contributions to our state, Governor Dayton has proclaimed this week to be “Minnesota Manufacturers Week.” The Governor’s proclamation highlights the important role manufacturers’ play in the success of the state as well as ample opportunities for employment.

“Last year, manufacturing contributed over $43 billion to our state's economy and employed over 300,000 workers,” said Governor Dayton. “This week we celebrate the hard work and many accomplishments of Minnesota’s manufacturers, and reaffirm our commitment to their continuing success."

About 307,000 people work in manufacturing in Minnesota, primarily in such areas as computer and electronic products, foods, fabricated metal products and machinery. Manufacturing contributes $43.7 billion to the state economy – 16 percent of Minnesota’s gross domestic product – and the industry accounted for $19.3 billion in state exports last year.

Salaries in the sector are much higher than most other industries in the state because many manufacturing jobs require high-tech skills to operate advanced technology and computer-controlled equipment. The average manufacturing position in the state paid $59,565 last year, over $10,000 more than the typical job in Minnesota.

In recognition of Minnesota Manufacturers' Week, activities including plant tours, keynote speakers and educational activities are planned to help promote the growing industry. To read more about Minnesota Manufacturers' Week or to schedule a tour of a facility, visit http://mn.gov/deed

If you are interested in the manufacturing industry, here are additional resources:

Unison Comfort Technologies, a manufacturer of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems for the commercial sector, is expanding its facilities in north Minneapolis and will add 75 jobs. The company, headquartered at 60 28th Ave. N., said it is expanding because of increased demand for its HVAC products, which include air handling equipment, rooftop units, energy recovery systems, dehumidification units, and heating and cooling coils. The company plans to invest $627,000 in the expansion and will create jobs paying an average salary of $16.90 an hour.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is assisting with the expansion with a $400,000 grant from the Minnesota Job Creation Fund. The company will receive the funding after meeting its hiring and investment commitments.

The Job Creation Fund, which was first proposed by Governor Mark Dayton to encourage job growth in Minnesota, will award $24 million in business incentives that were approved in the 2013 legislative session. Officials said the program is helping the state to compete for new jobs and businesses.
“The Minnesota Job Creation Fund is working, helping businesses expand and create thousands of new jobs across Minnesota,” said Governor Dayton. “I congratulate Unison Comfort Technologies for their success, and thank the company for the 75 good-paying jobs this expansion will create.”

The expansion of the Mankato Civic Center has been six years in the making. And thanks to the 2014 Jobs Bill passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Mark Dayton last May, the project is finally on track to be completed. The Jobs Bill enacted during the last session provided $14.5 million to add an auditorium, additional meeting rooms, and renovate the ice arena. The Civic Center expansion is expected to create more than 450 new construction jobs and generate an annual $50 million economic impact.

“This project was long overdue,” said Governor Dayton. “The expansion of the Mankato Civic Center will add hundreds of new jobs, and bring thousands more visitors to Mankato every year. I congratulate the many community leaders who worked for years to complete this important project.”

Today Governor Dayton traveled to Redwood, MN to speak in a forum at Minnesota’s annual Farmfest. To recognize the contributions to our state and their community, Governor Dayton has proclaimed August 7, 2014 Farm Family Recognition Day in honor of the 66,000 family-owned and operated farms across the state.

Family farms make up the backbone of Minnesota’s economy. From raising livestock to maintaining crops, Minnesota relies on farm family communities to build and sustain Minnesota agriculture and economy. Farm Families of Minnesota generate over 3 billion dollars in exports and are in strong support of renewable energy efforts.

“Minnesota is the fifth largest producer of agricultural products in the nation,” said Department of Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson. “Agriculture generates an estimated $90 billion in economic activity in this state.”

Farmfest is an annual agricultural fair that celebrates these accomplishments. With a packed schedule, this gathering offers livestock handling, panel discussions, crafts, seminars and entertainment. Each year the University of Minnesota presents the Farm Family of the Year Award which recognizes 70 Minnesota farm families who have contributed to our state's’ agricultural economy and their communities.

It is important to acknowledge Minnesota Farm families not only for their fundamental role in Minnesota agricultural economy, but also as community members that make Minnesota a better place. Governor Mark Dayton fully supports and promotes local farming here in Minnesota. Since taking office in 2011, Governor Dayton and the Department of Agriculture have implemented the following initiatives:

Polaris Industries Inc., manufacturer of innovative, high quality off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and on-road electric/hybrid powered vehicles, is creating 100 new jobs in conjunction with a $20 million office expansion project in Plymouth.

The Medina-based company says it plans to buy and renovate an existing 120,000-square-foot building that will house off-road vehicles, both military and commercial, parts, garments and accessories and related business. About 400 employees, many of whom are currently located at other local Polaris sites, are expected to work in the building.

On Friday, thousands of Minnesota’s lowest-wage workers will get a well-earned raise. Friday’s increase will bring the new wage to $8.00 per hour – the first increase in the state’s minimum wage in nearly a decade. The minimum wage increase signed by Governor Mark Dayton will raise the wage to $9.50 per hour by 2016, and index it to inflation to help ensure Minnesotans’ wages keep up with the cost of living.

"Minnesotans who work full-time should be able to earn enough money to lift their families out of poverty and achieve the American Dream," said Gov. Mark Dayton. "Raising the minimum wage will improve the lives of more than 325,000 hard-working Minnesotans. I thank the Legislature for recognizing the need to make work pay in Minnesota."

Before Minnesota’s new wage goes into effect, our current wage of $6.15 per hour Minnesota was one of the lowest minimum wages in the nation – lower than neighboring Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota. In fact, Minnesota was one of only four states in the country with a minimum wage below the national rate of $7.25 per hour.

Super Radiator Coils (SRC) recently broke ground at its manufacturing facility in Minnesota to build a 22,000 s.f. addition to meet demand for heat exchanger coils that are used at nuclear power plants, as well as other applications. The company previously expanded its original 65,000 s.f. plant in 2012 with a 13,000 s.f. addition to build the same equipment.

The company is one of only three manufacturers in the world that are certified by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) to meet its high quality standards for nuclear power plant equipment and to display the society’s “N-Stamp” on its coils. The company also has a 110,000 sq. ft. plant in Richmond, VA, and two facilities in Phoenix, AZ, that total 65,000 sq. ft.

SRC will provide most of the funding itself for the new addition, but the company has been approved to receive a $287,500 grant from the Job Creation Fund of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). In addition, it will receive a $150,000 loan from the Carver County Business Loan Fund.

“The Minnesota Job Creation Fund was launched just seven months ago, but it has already helped more than a dozen businesses across the state expand, creating hundreds of new jobs,” said Governor Mark Dayton. “I thank Super Radiator Coils for this important expansion, and for the up to 30 new jobs this project will create.”

The new $4 million addition will result in the new jobs being created over the next three years for highly skilled workers, according to Rob Holt, SRC’s President and CEO. The privately held company employs more than 350 people at its three facilities.

Minnesota received more good economic news yesterday. Three Minnesota cities ranked among the top 25 smaller cities in the country to do business and have a career. Mankato ranked third on the national list, followed by Rochester (23rd) and St. Cloud (24th).

The analysis, conducted by Forbes Magazine, considered U.S. cities with populations of less than 250,000. Forbes weighed several factors in making its rankings, including:

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded a $147,739 grant to St. Cloud State University to train 84 employees of Netgain.

The grant was awarded under the agency’s Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Program. The program works strategically with both businesses and educational institutions to train or retrain workers, expand work opportunities and keep high-quality jobs in the state. In this grant, the program leverages nearly $162,000 from Netgain, an IT provider for the health care industry.

“The Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Program has responded to business workforce needs by training more than 260,000 Minnesotans,” said DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben. “In this collaborative project, the entire Netgain workforce will gain the technical and leadership skills necessary to provide the highest level of service possible, advance their careers and keep the company competitive in the rapidly changing health care industry.”

With support from Governor Mark Dayton and the Minnesota Legislature, the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Program has awarded $23.5 million since 2011 to train 30,535 workers and has leveraged $56.4 million in private funding.

MJSP funding will partner with SCSU to provide training in five main topics: Health Care in the United States, Building Business Communication Skills in the Health Care Industry, Netgain Client Experience, Advancing Netgain Technical Knowledge and Skills, and Netgain Management/Leadership in Health Care IT. An Interactive Presentation System will be purchased for in-class and distance learning. SCSU will also use the system for future onsite training and special events.

For information on the grant, contact Tammy Anhalt-Warner, SCSU, 320-308-4252.

Governor Dayton breaking ground for maurices office building in Duluth - one of the many companies adding hundreds of job in Minnesota

Minnesota received more good economic news today. Today’s jobs report, released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), showed the state added 8,500 jobs in June. And the state’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.5 percent last month – the lowest it has been in seven years. In total, Minnesota has added nearly 160,000 new jobs since Governor Dayton took office in January 2011.

Governor Dayton, members of his Cabinet, and other key stakeholders gathered today at the University of Minnesota to discuss how the state can continue adding jobs in Minnesota’s growing clean energy sector. Tens of thousands of Minnesotans are employed already in clean energy jobs. As Minnesota builds on our nation-leading renewable energy policies, the Governor and his Administration are committed to growing the jobs that come along with it.